SEN. Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada has filed a measure proposing the grant of incentives to establishments which will employ reformed drug dependents.
“Providing incentives to establishments that will employ rehabilitated drug dependents who are graduates of technical-vocational education and training (TVET) programs specifically designed for them will provide reformed drug users a holistic support system for their re-integration to society,” Estrada said in filing Senate Bill No. 2276.
The TVET and livelihood programs will focus on equipping individuals with competitive and employable skills to enhance their chances of finding sustainable employment or pursuing entrepreneurial opportunities.
The bill seeks to institutionalize the programs to ensure their continuity and provide sufficient funding for their implementation.
Estrada noted that TESDA has been providing training and livelihood scholarships to former drug dependents since 2016 and in 2021, of which 94 percent or 8,200 out of the 8,700 former drug dependents have already graduated from its various courses.
“This is enough indication of the willingness of a large percentage of former drug dependents to lead better lives. It’s important to sustain the support that is being provided to them and expand its scope to include skills training and productivity enhancement that will prepare them to be self-reliant and qualified for gainful employment,” said Estrada, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment, and Human Resources Development.
